NEWS: Trump Gears Up to Send Thousands to Guantanamo Bay as Judge Denies California's Request to Military Deployment

Trump plans to send thousands to Guantanamo Bay this week, a judge denied California's emergency request to stop military deployment, Trump warns protestors with "very heavy force," ABC folds to Trump

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Here’s the news of the day:

  • Governor Newsom requested a restraining order to block Trump and Pete Hegseth’s use of the military in Los Angeles for planned immigration raids with ICE.

  • Judge Breyer denied the immediate request but scheduled a hearing for Thursday to review the matter.

  • Pete Hegseth confirms that the National Guard will remain for 60 days in LA and the Pentagon has confirmed that the deployment will cost taxpayers $134 million.

  • Trump claimed that the U.S. won World War I and criticized the country for not celebrating its victory, unlike France. He said that without American involvement, people would be speaking German—or maybe even some Japanese—today.

  • Trump criticized Los Angeles, saying it has deteriorated from one of the cleanest and safest cities to a "trash heap." He blamed the decline on poor leadership and mismanagement over recent decades.

  • Trump announced he is restoring the names of military bases previously named after Confederate figures, including changing one back to "Fort Robert E. Lee." He framed the move as preserving American history and honoring heritage.

  • Trump warned that anyone protesting the military parade on Saturday will be met with "very heavy force," signaling a zero-tolerance approach to demonstrations during the event.

  • Donald Trump will not rule out invoking the insurrection act when it comes to Los Angeles.

  • The Trump administration plans to significantly increase the transfer of undocumented migrants to Guantanamo Bay, with at least 9,000 individuals being vetted for relocation.

  • The plan includes potentially sending up to 800 undocumented immigrants from Europe, risking diplomatic tensions with U.S. allies.

  • Trump announced plans to push for a law mandating a one-year prison sentence for anyone caught burning the American flag. He framed the proposal as a measure to protect national symbols and promote patriotism.

  • Law enforcement officers from the California National Guard, DHS, and ICE used non-lethal tear gas to disperse protesters outside a federal detention center, according to CNN footage. Officers advanced on the crowd to clear a path for an armored vehicle, while protesters chanted “This is what democracy looks like!” and threw water bottles in response.

  • Over 700 U.S. Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines are currently stationed outside Los Angeles, awaiting orders to assist the National Guard with protest-related operations, CNN reports.

  • The Marines are undergoing additional training and have not yet been officially tasked, according to U.S. officials and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, who confirmed they remain on standby under the direction of U.S. Northern Command.

  • ABC News is not renewing Terry Moran’s contract. The network emphasized its commitment to high standards of objectivity, fairness, and trusted journalism in its statement.

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson said California Governor Gavin Newsom should be “tarred and feathered,” calling him “a participant, an accomplice” in the ongoing civil unrest in the state. His remarks sparked backlash for their inflammatory tone and historical connotations.

  • As over 100 graduations take place across Los Angeles Unified schools this week, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced protective measures to safeguard families amid ongoing immigration raids.

  • Schools are providing livestreams where possible, allowing guests to enter venues immediately to avoid lines, and keeping families inside if enforcement activity is nearby. Carvalho condemned the fear parents are facing, asking, “What nation are we becoming?” after hearing that some are too afraid to attend their own children's graduations.

  • When asked whether the two-state solution is currently a goal of the State Department, Tammy Bruce responded that U.S. policy is ultimately determined by President Donald Trump. When pressed about the Secretary of State's role in shaping foreign policy, she clarified that Secretary Rubio's job is to implement the president's vision.

  • Bloomberg reports that the U.S. and Mexico are nearing an agreement on a new trade deal. Negotiations appear to be in the final stages, with details expected soon.

  • The House of Representatives voted 266–148 to repeal Washington, D.C.’s 2022 law that allowed non-citizens to vote in local elections, overturning a measure that expanded voting rights to non-citizen residents.

  • Starbucks is set to roll out an Azure OpenAI-powered assistant for baristas, according to CNBC. The tool aims to streamline operations and support staff with real-time assistance.

  • The Trump administration is considering pulling federal education grants from California, according to POLITICO. The move is reportedly tied to ongoing disputes over state education policies and federal authority.

  • Trump is preparing to repeal President Biden’s regulations aimed at limiting pollution from power plants. The rollback would mark a major shift in environmental policy, favoring deregulation and fossil fuel interests.

  • The Trump administration will eliminate all USAID overseas positions by September 30 as part of a sweeping restructuring of U.S. foreign aid. A State Department cable from Secretary Marco Rubio confirms that control of all foreign assistance programs will shift from USAID to the State Department, prompting warnings from staff about potentially devastating impacts on global aid efforts.

  • The Smithsonian Institution has rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, asserting that staffing decisions fall under the authority of its secretary and governing board—not the president. Trump had announced Sajet’s dismissal, accusing her of being “highly partisan” and too supportive of diversity initiatives, but Sajet has continued working, setting up a direct standoff between the White House and the museum's independent leadership.

  • A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing executive orders that bar grant recipients from supporting diversity or transgender-inclusive programs. Judge Jon Tigar ruled that the government cannot condition funding on the abandonment of DEI initiatives, calling the restrictions an attempt to censor constitutionally protected speech. The ruling will stay in effect as the case proceeds, though an appeal is expected.

See you in the morning.

— Aaron